The New York Mets announced a pretty massive trade on Monday. The team acquired Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz in exchange for five players. Fans seem thrilled that Jay Bruce is no longer going to be a member of the team and that his contract will no longer be on the payroll. Once more, dumping Swarzak as well seems to be another massive upgrade for the team. It is believed that the team also got around $20 million to help alleviate the Cano contract.

The biggest blow in this deal, to me at least, is Kelenic. The 6th overall draft pick in the 2018 draft is believed to have a bright future ahead. The Mets really don't have too much depth in the prospect pool; nor do they have depth in the outfield. For 2019 the Mets should be much improved. For the future however, this trade could absolutely backfire.

The Yankees made pitching a priority this off-season. Patrick Corbin was part of the blueprint. However the team missed out on him due to the refusal of giving six years to the lefty. On top of that the money is astronomically high for someone who has not pitched as an ace. Let's see what the numbah one New York sports voice thinks.

Sources close to Pardon My Take have informed us that Packers HC Mike McCarthy will be relieved of his coaching duties with an announcement coming as early as this week. Please credit Pardon My Take if this happens

The Green Bay Packers have fired head coach Mike McCarthy. The move came shortly after the team lost to the very bad Arizona Cardinals. Many fans have been expecting this move and to sit here and pretend to know if the move was justified would be wrong. However, at 4-7-1and only four weeks left in the season, I do have to ask why make this move now?

The Monday after week 17 is the biggest day for coaches getting fired. I don't think that this move creates a culture change that launches the Packers into a playoff team this year. So essentially why make a move now that won't even effect your team? To clarify I am not saying McCarthy should have kept his job. He's a very good coach and will be picked up in no time. The question to me is why make a move weeks too late? To me that's what this move screams. Too little too late.

]]>I Swore I Would NOT Get Upset (Here We Are)http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/32abbd115ba2285b313fd552d40f7dd4
Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:45:00 -0600http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/32abbd115ba2285b313fd552d40f7dd4

There are no words to say. Look I try my best to keep any and all bias away from my writing. I just simply cannot do it here. As I take a second to reflect on my retort, I will let Stephen A. Smith handle my current emotion.

Look folks, I get it. Henrik Lundqvist is not for everyone. He has never won a Vezina Trophy. Never carried his team to a Eastern Conference Championship. Henrik Lundqvist is not the most attractive human being on the face of this earth. *Checks notes* Oh wait, all of those statements were false. Quick look at the facts (stats).

Oh so you mean a .922 save percentage and a 2.28 goals against average is not good? Apparently so. Fact of the matter is that it doesn't matter where your fandom lies, Henrik Lundqvist is a bona fide first ballot Hall of Famer, guaranteed.

The New York Yankees got one of the big trade pieces of the offseason. James Paxton was one of the two big pitching names (Cleveland's Corey Kluber) and Brian Cashman made it a point to get him. The team gave up their number one overall prospect in Justus Sheffield as the main piece going back to Seattle.

Anytime you have to give up your top prospect the return will need to be better. James Paxton is 30 years old (not ideal) however he is under team control for the next two years (very much ideal). This means that the tall lefty will be under team control for his "prime seasons". Sheffield on the other hand just hasn't reached the level the Yankees wanted him to reach by this time. The best time to trade him was right now or hope he panned out. Erik Swanson and Dom Thompson-Williams were also part of the deal. Thompson-Williams was more or less the add into the deal and Swanson could have been lost for nothing in the rule five draft this offseason.

Source: #Yankees remain interested in free agents Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ, following the James Paxton deal. Yankees are placing a higher priority on adding one more starting pitcher than signing Manny Machado or Bryce Harper. @MLB@MLBNetwork

Cashman is focused on bringing in a championship and will focus on pitching to make that happen this offseason.

]]>Giants Win in San Francisohttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/622052944318fd14d4916237b3ea217e
Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:45:00 -0600http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/622052944318fd14d4916237b3ea217eThe New York Giants went into San Francisco Monday night and defeated the 49ers. The final score was 27-23. The game came down to a final drive and final play. There were plenty of plays to enjoy in this game. Two interceptions, two Odell Beckham Jr. touchdown receptions and a game winning drive led by Eli Manning.

When it comes down to the end of the season, each win actually hurts the Giants more than it helps. However that doesn't mean a game like Monday Night wasn't enjoyable. It's nice to know that the Super Bowl is back on for Big Blue!

Editor's Note: The Super Bowl is absolutely not back on, but it was fun to bELIeve for once this season.

]]>Winter Classic Jersey's Announcedhttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/d580b3266a0cd7dc2e418c8f9d4070b0
Fri, 09 Nov 2018 05:00:00 -0600http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/d580b3266a0cd7dc2e418c8f9d4070b0Every year the NHL plays in an outdoor game called the Winter Classic. This game is played on New Years Day every year and this season's game will be taking place in South Bend, Indiana. With the holiday season rapidly approaching the NHL provided any fan a gift idea. The release of the Winter Classic jersey is always a fan favorite. Seldomly are these jerseys a miss, and this year continues that trend.

This is just an absolute beauty of a sweater (we call them sweaters out of respect). Personally I can't even explain just how great these are. The color scheme alone is vintage enough to bring out nostalgia, yet still have a modern feel. It absolutely is the perfect away jersey for the January 1, 2019 show down.

My oh my. This jersey is sleek. Now this one is more likely to be on one end of the spectrum or the other. The jersey has a simplistic all black look and a logo without color at all. Some might love this jersey others might liken it to George Clooney's attire in O, Brother Where Art Thou.

The Winter Classic jerseys rarely disappoint and while the Bruins may have the nicer look, neither team will have trouble selling these sweaters. It'd just be a terrible shame if someone decided to gift me either one (or both) of these beauties.

The Yankees are bringing back CC Sabathia for one more year. The deal is a one year $8 million contract. Shortly after, Sabathia took to twitter and announced that 2019 will be the last season of his career. Sabathia has been a pretty important member of the team since he was signed in 2009. When he initially signed he was an ace, now he has reinvented himself as a reliable back-end of the rotation pitcher. More importantly he is beloved by his teammates and sticks up for them.

One last hoorah for Sabathia and the Yankees. It's a solid signing for both sides and Sabathia hopes to ride off into the sunset as a champion.

This is rather big news in the sports/egaming world. Fortnite is the biggest game to hit society in recent memory. No matter where you are kids are doing some sort of Fortnite based dance. Now the NFL is getting involved with a colaboration where players can use NFL skins for their characters.

This may not sound like a big deal, but it really is. This is a genius move. The NFL is hurting when it comes to viewership. It also is hurting when it comes to future generations taking an interest in the game. Parents seem to be weary of letting their children play football, therefore less kids can take an interest. What this move does is it allows kids to gain an interest in football while playing their favorite game. It's a win-win, two birds one stone situation for the NFL.

]]>November Painhttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/39fea9a3d01ee5e491cc401ad677a502
Mon, 05 Nov 2018 05:30:00 -0600http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/39fea9a3d01ee5e491cc401ad677a502The leaves are beautiful as the flutter to the ground. The weather brings out the scarfs and the clattering of teeth. The defrost is working magic every morning to clear the windshield of commuters. Welcome to November. Axel Rose once said "nothin' lasts forever" in the hit song November Rain (fantastic song). Now that the costumes and pumpkins are away, it's time to turn to a happy time. Everyone is about to get ready for the holiday season. Usually seen as the "Most wonderful time of the year" for high school athletes that play fall sports, the pressure is on.

Quick background about myself, I played sports my whole life. To this day I have friends from when I was a child playing football. My pads were too big, my mouth piece was chewed to the point of no return, I exhaled as hard as I could to see the smoke of my breath. A decade plus later and I still remember moments like this, I remember the huddles where the play was called. I remember the half time speeches and the orange peels we always threw on the ground. It was probably only a handful of oranges, but it looked like an entire produce section. Fast forward to present day and this is what I'm left with.

I'm not an isolated incident either. Ask anyone that has played a sport, ask any high school athlete about their sport. Ask them what they love about high school sports. Most will say they love the game, and that is true. Loving the game is what helps every athlete push through during a tough practice, or dig deep in the final seconds of a game. If you ask that question again, however, mostly every single athlete will talk about their teammates. Every single high school athlete will compare their freshman year selves to senior year. From adolescent to adulthood, that is what these students endured.

Senior year, the rulers of the school. Nothing can go wrong this year. At least until November. The start of the playoffs mean that on the one hand, a group of athletes will have the best fall of their lives. However for the most it's a terrible awaking.

My last football game was a championship game. My team was undefeated and we knew it was the last game we would ever play together. I don't remember the final score, I just remember we lost. I was inconsolable. To this day I have never cried that much, it wasn't just the loss. I was never putting the pads on again, I was never playing with my teammates ever again. I was losing coaches, teammates parents, another family. I was inconsolable.

The terrible truth is that there are athletes all over Long Island, all over the country, that will be hit with this same feeling. Only one team can experience pure euphoria. The rest will be struck with a heavy wake up call. Like the snap by Thanos everything will change. That final whistle will never be louder. The most important thing for these senior athletes to do is enjoy every moment. Every play. Every laugh. Every second. Nothing lasts forever, except for these memories made.

]]>New York (Sports) State of Mindhttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/2f581833d76e3608aefbc60fd842219e
Wed, 31 Oct 2018 05:30:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/2f581833d76e3608aefbc60fd842219eHappy Halloween everyone! It's a great day to be spooky and scary. Today is a day that everyone gets to laugh, dress up and get some sweet treats. Halloween allows people to throw on a mask anything they want. In the sports world, there is no masking to be had. This can be seen even more when it comes to the current landscape of New York sports.

There has been an unwritten rule that New York sports team absolutely DO NOT "rebuild". It's not allowed in the media to have a New York team rebuild. Yet, here we are, with every team going through some sort of upheave. It has been spoken about at length that the New York Giants are in a rebuild mode. The New York Rangers/Islanders are looking to build for the future. The Knicks/Nets are (seemingly) always 'one summer away' from competing. The Mets are going to need to transition with their new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen.

With the Yankees coming short of their championship goal, many are saying the Jets are the best team in New York. Obviously, with recency bias in effect, the Jets truly are the best team currently in the area. The Jets are still roughly a year (or two) away from truly being a threat. This essentially speaks volumes about the state {pun intended} of New York sports. While the rival city of Boston just got done celebrating their 11th championship since 2001, New York has seen three in that same span.

Granted Boston sports is an unprecedented expectation to live up to. It still goes to show that success across the four major sports can be obtained. The question is, why aren't these teams able to succeed? Why can't one team hoist a championship torphy? Short answer there have been many moves that have costed sustainable success.

The idea of not being able to rebuild has costed almost every sports team in New York. Now it's coming back to haunt them. It's a spooky time to be a New York sports fan and the scary, dreary times won't be ending any time soon.

]]>Kyle Lauletta Arrestedhttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/554ed7d9a0db3e74b6a330727583845e
Tue, 30 Oct 2018 15:00:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/554ed7d9a0db3e74b6a330727583845eNew York Giants quarterback Kyle Lauletta was arrested on Tuesday for a traffic violation. Many fans were hoping to see Lauletta (a 2018 third round selection) at the very least dress in two weeks when the team plays the 49ers in San Francisco.

On #Giants QB Kyle Lauletta’s arrest (first reported by @njdotcom), a Weehawken police source says he hit the gas, ignored cops’ orders to stop, almost hit the cop and another car, cut off other cars and then refused to put his window down or step out of the vehicle.

It just seems to continue to get worse for the franchise this season. Apparently the team is unable to conduct a quality drive on or off the field.

]]>New York Giants quarterback Kyle Lauletta was arrested on Tuesday for a traffic violation. Many fans were hoping to see Lauletta (a 2018 third round selection) at the very least dress in two weeks when the team plays the 49ers in San Francisco.

On #Giants QB Kyle Lauletta’s arrest (first reported by @njdotcom), a Weehawken police source says he hit the gas, ignored cops’ orders to stop, almost hit the cop and another car, cut off other cars and then refused to put his window down or step out of the vehicle.

The Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Congratulations are in order for the city of Boston. In what has been an EXTREMELY difficult time in Boston sports the long title-less drought is over. It has been a full 18 months since the city could celebrate being king of the sports world. It's hard to imagine what it would be like to go through such a trying time as a sports fan, but that makes this championship that much sweeter I'm certain.

Obviously, there was heavy sarcasm to open this. The way the Red Sox steamrolled through the playoffs is nothing short of impressive. An absolute machine that made the best teams in baseball look inferior. The Red Sox lost three games in the entire playoff run, which is remarkable. Steve Pearce won the MVP, that is how deep the team is. Timely hitting, putting pressure on the opposing teams and of course great pitching paved the way. All season long the Red Sox just outplayed teams. They had the best record in the regular season and were the best team since April.

There is plenty more in depth analysis coming. Nonetheless, the city of Boston ends it's 18 month titless drought. One can only imagine the type of hardships a fanbase can have going 18 months without a championship. 18 months is close to an eternity in my book. Congratulations to the Red Sox and the city of Boston, cue those Duckboats.

]]>MLB: Dream Matchup; Nightmare Ratinghttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/c2810e68025fe59f12bef434187a5d28
Fri, 26 Oct 2018 05:00:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/c2810e68025fe59f12bef434187a5d28The 2018 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers is two games old. Major League Baseball finally has gotten a dream match up. Two major markets, two storied franchises, two coasts playing for a championship. On paper, this World Series should be the most exciting one in recent memory. However it just isn't , viewership is down from last year's World Series.

Final Wednesday ratings: World Series is down 13% vs. 2017 over two games, some minor ups & downs for scripted shows: https://t.co/LtcdAO9cPD

In what can be nothing short of a head scratching stat there seems to be something that is lacking. Two of the biggest markets, with the biggest payrolls, with the biggest names in the game and viewership is down. Is it because of the games? The games have had many moments where the atmosphere was tense. There have been stellar plays, big home runs, and even though game one was an 8-4 Red Sox win, it was a close game. So what could it possibly be?

Personally, this matchup just doesn't have the flair that the Houston Astros vs Milwaukee Brewers would have had. Both of those teams are young and new. Houston could have started "dynasty" conversation had they made it. Milwaukee could bring the (almost certain) MVP to the World Series. Instead it's two old teams. LA has been a disappointment for at least a decade now, with a high payroll and nothing to show for it. The Red Sox are a good mix of youth and veterans, however they're lacking a personality. In 2004 they had an entire team of characters. In 2013 they had beards, but this year? What's the draw? It might be wrong to say but even with the best record in baseball and a 2-0 lead in the World Series going into Friday, they are (dare I say) boring.

This is the exact World Series that media has wanted for years. Some would have called it a 'once in a lifetime' series. Instead it's currently a lackluster one at best. A dream matchup but a nightmare scenario for Major League Baseball.

There isn't much to say when it comes to this trade. A mere 20 hours ago the team began their team cleanse. Much like drinking detox tea, there is plenty of upside, it seems to be the new fad in New York sports, there are plenty of side effects to it as well and some of it makes no sense to me. The long and the short of it is that, yes it is absolutely time for the Giants to trade personnel for assests.

However that doesn't mean handing players away does it? You would be hard pressed to argue that Harrison was worthy of one fifth round pick. At worst he should have yielded a third round pick. Especially when a player like Eli Apple got a higher round pick yesterday; and the Oakland Raiders were able to trade Amari Cooper for a first round pick. Harrison was a true Giant and he was an all-pro player since signing with the team in 2016. There almost certainly will be more moves to come before Sunday's game against Washington. Nonetheless, the rebuild is on and Giants fans are starting to feel like Tobias Funke on a 'big audition'.

]]>Giants Trade Eli Applehttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/1565516a18a998c5648ebabcb509b4ff
Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:30:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/1565516a18a998c5648ebabcb509b4ffThe New York Giants took look in the mirror and decided that it was time to make a change.

The team traded away former first round pick Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints. While many fans were hoping to be getting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in return, the team got two draft picks. Apple currently is on his rookie contract so he is relatively cheap for the Saints. Drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft, Apple really never became the corner that the Giants were actually hoping that he would get to.

Let's not forget that merely last year defensive captain Landon Collins called Apple a "cancer". There's a question that can be asked into when it comes to a move like this; 'what's next?' It's clear that the Giants need to hit the refresh button and they have some quality assets to unload. Could Janoris Jenkins be next? What about Olivier Vernon? There are moves to be made before the deadline next week. The key is realizing that it's the time to do it.

Pat Shurmur, on Apple trade: Listen, we're trying to win every game we play (but) we're also looking at the roster on short-term and long-term basis. Said 4th & 7th rd picks were "good value" for former 1st-round pick. #NYG

]]>Giants Fall to 1-6http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/0f01648c94b23c1f80de0702fbb56ae0
Tue, 23 Oct 2018 05:30:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/0f01648c94b23c1f80de0702fbb56ae0The New York Giants fall to 1-6 on the 2018 after their 23-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. For all intents and purposes the struggling Giants played extremely well against a team that is looking to get into the playoffs. However that simply isn't enough.

Eli Manning: We made a lot of big plays today and did some good things...but we have to finish. That’s the theme of the year. #NYGvsATL

Manning threw for 399 yards against Atlanta. Odell Beckham had eight catches for 143 yards. Sterling Sheppard had five catches for 167 yards. The Giants defense held the Julio Jones to 104 yards and Matt Ryan to only touchdown pass. Can't stress enough that for a team that has won four of their last 24 games, they palyed well.

However that just doesn't cut it. Nate Solder, who was signed to protect Eli Manning for $15 million per year, simply has been a disaster this year. Monday night was no different, Manning was sacked four times in the game and was under pressure an unfathomable amount of times. Yet, when Manning did have time, he ended up looking to play 'hot potato' with the football and get rid of it as quickly as possible.

To start the second half the Giants went for it on fourth and goal at the one and were stopped. Had they kicked a field goal, there's the tie right there (hindsight is 20/20).

The struggling rookie head coach has missed on his gambles, the team has missed on opportunities and it will not get easier. The 1-6 Giants will take on their rivals from Washington, who are leading the NFC East, on Sunday. Plenty of good to take away, similarly to the loss against Carolina. Plenty to improve upon as well going forward.

]]>Rest In Peace Charles B. Wanghttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/e0471b84d9c49dbd6204671e78161151
Mon, 22 Oct 2018 00:39:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/e0471b84d9c49dbd6204671e78161151The Long Island community said goodbye to Chrales B. Wang on Sunday. Wang, was a founder of the software company Computer Associates and a former owner of the New York Islanders. The hockey community was crushed to learn of his passing on Sunday.

The Islanders are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Co-Owner, Charles B. Wang.

However, there was more to Wang than just his time in owning the Islanders. To simply put it Wang, loved Long Island. He helped bring two professional teams (Islanders and Dragons) to the Nassau Coliseum. Wang donated $52 million to Stony Brook University to fund the Charles Wang building. Wang did so many things for Long Island and he is someone that helped enhance many aspects of Long Island. Rest in Peace Charles B. Wang.

Here are some thoughts from WEHM Morning Show Host and former New York Islanders employee, Anthony...

]]>Are the Boston Red Sox Cheaters?http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/63b73d46d45dd70fb1cdc7e5343a450e
Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:10:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/63b73d46d45dd70fb1cdc7e5343a450eDurning game two of the American League Championship Series, it appears that a Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes was shining on the big stage.

There are many unwritten rules in the game of baseball. Using substances to get a better grip as a pitcher genuienly doesn't bother me. A cold baseball in early April or October is virtually impossible to fully grip and control. It is however going against the rules. It will probably have a blind eye turned to it, unless it happens again.

Sports, to most, it's just a game. A brisk Sunday of watching football, a scorching day in July watching baseball, a snowy day in February watching hockey or basketball, it's just a game. At least it's supposed to be. The sad reality is that to sports fans; especially the ones loyal to one team, it's not just a game. Personally, sports create memories and molded many relationships. I remember in 2015, a junior in college packing up my bedding, uneaten boxes of macaroni and cheese, and sport jerseys hanging on my wall, when Kevin Hayes tied the win-or-go home game seven. From that point on I remember how quiet my dorm was. A room of college guys, just sitting in silence until the game winner happened. Recollecting this game is easier than recollecting what I ate for breakfast this morning (PB&J is the answer to this riddle). It's a memory that isn't just sports to me.

Being a sports fan, it's just building a connection with friends/other fans. You build a connection to the players as well. This makes the successful seasons that much better and the 'not good enough' seasons that much more hurtful. As the saying goes, 'all good things comes to an end'. Nobody understands this currently as much as New York Giants fans. After an abysmal Thursday night game against the Philadelphia Eagles, reality officially hit an entire fanbase.

Eli Manning is not great, he's not good, he isn't even serviceable. Eli Manning is simply BAD. However this isn't a bash Eli post. Instead it's a sad awaking. This your Marimba chime going off at 6 am on Monday. There is another player a fan base gets to say goodbye to. Another player that at once was at the peak of his sport, and is now has deteriorated to unwatchable.

It happened with Derek Jeter. It happened with Eli's older brother Peyton. The only thing that fans can hope for, is that this level of play doesn't go on too long.

Eli Manning may have never been the best quarterback in the league. Eli Manning may not even have been the best quarterback in his draft class. Eli Manning was, however the best quarterback in New York Giants history.One day fans will look back and appreciate what number ten did, but that won't happen in 2018 that's for sure.

Bottom line: The O-line has been an issue for at least five years. The Giants didn't fix it. They had an immobile QB and they couldn't figure out how to protect him.

The Eli Manning Era may be effectively over now, but he didn't fail the Giants. They failed him. https://t.co/y3Ch817W7Q

The biggest takeaway is that fans don't just view their team as an escape. Many end up becoming engulfed by passion when it comes to their sports teams. While Eli Manning deserves every ounce of criticism this season, many fans will look back wishing for days past. Sports are not always an escape, in fact I could argue sports are a perfect representation of life. Seeing Eli age isn't just sad because of his legacy, but obviously that means fans aged with him. It's begs the question, when can I be passionate about my team again?

The New York Yankees will start another offseason earlier than expected. After a 4-3 loss last night to their rival Boston Red Sox, the Yankees dropped the American League Division Series (ALDS) three games to one. The Yankees won 100 games for the first time since 2009, and won their second consecutive Wild Card Game. It's difficult to call this season a dissapointment when these are the facts, but the question remains. How much did this team underachieve?

The team is close to being a championship club. However, close just isn't good enough. This team had a glaring weakness since April, and it was the starting rotation. This series against the Red Sox saw the Yankees yield one quality start in four games. To simply put it, that just will not do in the playoffs. Especially when you face a team that won 108 games in the regular season.

Pitching is always the key in the playoffs, yet hitting was the Yankees bread and butter. Being outscored 20-4 at home is not exactly a recipe for success. Living by the homerun and dying by the homerun is an exciting but dangerous offensive strategy. As the Yankees just saw, you need to steal, you need to bunt and hit behind runners. There's still a need to hit a fly ball with a runner on third and less than two outs, and it also helps to hit for the cycle in a playoff game.

It'll be curious to see what the Yankees do this offseason. While the curtain closes on the 2018 New York Yankees, there is plenty of good to reminisce about. Moral of the story, they were very close to being a championship club, but being close just isn't enough.

]]>The NFL's Slippery Slopehttp://wbaz.com/sports-blog/55bbd5b66db21b4005e587750e7eefda
Tue, 09 Oct 2018 21:30:00 -0500http://wbaz.com/sports-blog/55bbd5b66db21b4005e587750e7eefdaA chilly fall Sunday, used to be the best day of the week. At one point many would gather around a television, bar, parking lot or stadium to watch football all day. When fantasy football became a household activity, football got quite the boost in viewership. Fast forward to present day and it no longer is the same. Today a chill Sunday in October, is just that a chilly Sunday. This has nothing to do with players. This has nothing to do with owners. This has to do with men in stripes that officiate the game.

It doesn't matter what type of fan you are. Giants fan, Jets fan, Eagles fan, etc. These are the types of calls that make the National Football League difficult to watch. Not only was a play made on the ball, but on top of that the pass was tipped. Thus neutralizing any penalty that could have been called. Giants players took to the media and Twitter to express their displeasures in the call.

I can take a loss...to have a win stolen is a different type of feeling. The NFL has some explaining to do...

The NFL is on a slippery slope. If they don't fix the problems with the refs soon fans may be inclined to walk away from viewership. As Giants player Damon Harrison said on Twitter, "The NFL has some explaining to do."

The 2018 NFL season is three weeks old. After an offseason of anticipation and excitement, both the New York Jets and New York Giants find themselves (1-2). In April the Giants and Jets drafted second and third overall respectively. The Giants selected the best talent in the draft Saquon Barkley. The Jets took the (arguably) best quarterback in the draft. Fans across the tri-state area have been arguing back and forth between the picks.

The Giants taking Barkley was seen with heavy backlash. Fans wanted the Giants to look toward the future and draft a play caller to succeed Eli Manning. Instead they took an all world talent for running back. The Giants had glaring holes that wouldn’t be fixed with one pick. The offensive line has been abysmal since their last Super Bowl win, Eli Manning shows his age with each passing game (pun intended), and the team hasn’t had a true number one running back in recent memory. Essentially there wasn’t a player the Giants could pick that would fix all their problems. Whether taking a quarterback, a generational talent at running back or any other prospect, the Giants can build on their future.

The Jets on the other hand knew what they wanted. Trading four picks to Indianapolis Colts in order to move up three spots. Come draft day the Jets knew they would have their pick between (Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen). Darnold was seen as the most ‘NFL ready’ quarterback in the draft. There may have never been an easier decision than when the Jets found themselves on the clock and Darnold on the board. Honestly, the Jets may not have even been ‘on the clock’ as this was the biggest no brainer of all time. Fast forward to Week 1. Detroit, Michigan Monday Night Football, Jets vs Lions. September 10, 2018, Sam Darnold’s first snap as a professional. Play action, Darnold fakes the hand-off, rolls to the right, steps up in the pocket and throws on the run across the field...Intercepted. A pick six is how the prodigy’s career started. Jets fans were experiencing Deja Vu as their franchise savior starts his career the worst way possible. Fast forward to nights end, Darnold led the Jets to a 48-17 win.

Hindsight being 20/20 both teams and players will deal with questions about their picks. Was Darnold rushed to start the season? Was Barkley the right pick? The future will tell the story.

Making a rookie the starter to begin the season speaks on two trains of thought. First, Darnold’s talent shined through, beating Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater out for the starting job. Second, the Jets are putting their faith in Darnold. It’s a sink or swim business and Darnold was given the task of swimming in rocky water. In the past those ask to carry this burden have sunk like a rock. Darnold on the other seems fit for the task.

Personally, Barkley was the right choice at two. The Giants had too many holes to fill and a talent like Saquon only comes around once. Allowing Eli Manning to have at least a threat in the run game helps him immensely. Not to mention Barkley is the only running back to have 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season. The Giants once took a player who ‘filled a need’ in Ereck Flowers. Taking Flowers meant missing out on Todd Gurley (decent player). Point here is, sometimes filling a void to fill a void, backfires.

Both teams have the same record. Barkley has looked strong and Darnold has looked like the franchise quarterback the team has been missing. Should the Giants have taken Darnold (another quarterback)? Will Darnold continue to grow and make the Giants regret passing on him?

After yet another roughing the passer penalty, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews expressed some frustration with the NFL. Matthews said, "Unfortunately this league's going in a direction I think a lot of people don't like. I think they're getting soft,". It’s no question that the league has cracked down on player safety and taking out unnecessary hits. Have the hits by Matthews been egregious? Or is it the penalties called on him? Is the NFL getting “soft”?